Essential Medicines

The Essential Medicines Programme helps to save lives and improve health by closing the huge gap between the potential that essential medicines have to offer and the reality that for millions of people- particularly the poor and disadvantaged- essential medicines are often unavailable, unaffordable, unsafe or improperly used.

Harare, 23 March 2016 - Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an unprecedented threat to global public health. Antibiotics have long been regarded as one of the most significant medical achievements of the 20th century. These medicines have saved countless lives including aiding people affected by diseases such as cancer or diabetes, and those undergoing surgical procedures.

As members of an EU/WHO/ACP partnership* to improve access to quality medicines meet in Brazzaville, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, praised progress made and called for greater commitment to ensure that Africans have access to the quality, affordable medicines they need.

The African Region is facing an increasing risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. AMR and its spread will compromise health security in the Region as many standard medical treatments will fail or turn into high-risk procedures causing prolonged illnesses, high health care expenditures, and greater risks of death.